Looters stole zoo animals to eat, sell: animal rights group

The number of animals at the Baghdad zoo has shrunk from 400 before the war to only 50, largely because looters stole them to eat or sell, a US-based animal rights group said today.

Looters also stole most of the zoo's equipment, making it difficult for zoo keepers to care for the surviving animals, the International Fund for Animal Welfare said in a statement.

"Following the recent strife in Iraq, the animals were left severely traumatised and without food and water," the group said.

The 50 animals include 19 lions as well as tigers, brown bears, wolves, jackals and camels.

The group said emergency food and medical supplies were arriving in Baghdad, which fell to US-led forces that toppled Saddam Hussein on April 9.");document.write("

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"The situation here was pretty desperate and the animals were in a poor condition, but things have now been stabilised and with these supplies it will get better. However, we are working in extremely difficult conditions," said Amed Khan, a member of the group.